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Mapping & GIS

Your organization collects data every time a team goes to the field, but is this data fully utilized, or is it lost within a PDF document? Would you like to visualize your NGO’s core information on a map in order to get a better sense of where the needs are and, therefore, to plan your activities accordingly? Do you want to implement a new activity but only have the name of the village and are unsure where that village is?

The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” could not apply better than to GIS applications: using a map, you can visualize at a glance where needs are and where resources are, and then to analyse how best to link the two. Having a geographic overview of a situation can dramatically improve evidence-based decision-making. From printed base maps (where infrastructure data provides a good overview of a region) to sector-specific dynamic maps (to quickly visualize the evolution of a situation through time), geographic information is vital for a good understanding of a situation. In order to be able to produce maps, you need to find the existing geographic data and ensure your sector data is in a usable format. You also need to conduct analysis relevant to each sector. A GIS strategy allows you to define standard procedures that optimize workflow and ensure that GIS products reach the people who require the information. CartONG assists humanitarian organizations in their GIS work with any or all of these steps.

Learn more about how CartONG can help you with your GIS and mapping projects below:

Webmap of CartONG missions on Mapping & GIS

Latest Activities for Mapping & GIS

Staff activities

Volunteer activities

GIS strategy 2013-2015, Map Centre and mapping (MSF-CH)

Jul / 2013 to Dec / 2015

MSF Switzerland initiated in 2012 a reflection on the value of GIS in their operations. The last quarter of 2013 saw the beginning of a strong collaboration between MSF-CH and CartONG. We support MSF-CH in defining their needs and are putting into place the first 2-years plan GIS strategy.

CartONG has deployed numerous times to Terre des hommes delegations to give trainings and help with the general capacity building of national and international staff in the field on information management, mobile data collection and geographical information systems.

CartONGimplements camp mappingtogetherwithUNHCRFICCS unit by deploying a user-friendlysmartphone application for data collection and maintenance and store all collected information online in versatile web maps accessible to all actors in need of it. Alreadycovered camps are accessible in the webmap section of the map portal (maps.unhcr.org)

CartONG is implementing a map portal for UNHCR. Thisportal is a repository of all pdf mapsproduced by UNHCR and in the future partners as well. Othermappingproductssuch as webmaps are alsoavailablethrough the map portal and users can request new mappingproductsthrough the portal as well.

From installing and maintaining their ArcGIS servers to supporting modifications to database structure and enriching the database with new layers and linking to external databases, CartONG supports UNHCR in structuring their GIS webservices. CartONG also participates to the discussions in how GIS should evolve in UNHCR in the future.

Our staff worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Uganda, doing creation and maintenance of return monitoring database, collection and compilation of GPS coordinates, production of maps, and capacity building of local staff.

CartONG produced Base maps and Emergency maps, as well as compiled Geodatabases and Atlases for the International Comittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters in Geneva.

The deliveries included maps for ICRC concerning Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Middle East and 100 contextual maps of other countries. All of these geographic data were about specific themes like communications, services, energy, and economic data, in order to enable the comprehension of the local context and make decision making easier.

All available radio stations were mapped on Google spreadsheets to allow collaborative mapping and updating of status. Data was obtained through online data mining and operational partners and feedback through them. A Needs assessment, available in English and French was mapped as kml as well.

Galleries

CartONG is a French non-governmental organization committed to furthering the use of geographic and non-geographic information tools and methodologies to improve data gathering and analysis for emergency relief and development programmes around the world.